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RCAC’S Marko receives national award for collaborative leadership

August 2, 2011

Contact:
Sharon Wills
PR Communications Coordinator
Phone: 916/447-9832 ext. 1005

PORTLAND, Ore. — Chris Marko, RCAC rural development specialist, was presented with the prestigious Ron Shaffer Award from the National Rural Development Partnership (NRDP) at the Partners for Rural America (PRA) meeting in Washington, D.C. on June 8. The award recognizes Marko’s work in bringing people with diverse interests together to improve rural programs and policy at the state and national levels.

“Chris received this award for successfully helping organizations and groups build strategic collaborations and partnerships, for actively bringing in new and divergent voices to the council table, and for his leadership and support of emerging rural development leaders on state, regional and community levels,” said Megan Smith, Oregon Rural Development Council co-chair.

As an RCAC environmental specialist in Oregon, Marko provides training and technical assistance to rural communities on water and wastewater project development and management. He serves on the Oregon Rural Development Council and Partners for Rural America (PRA). For the past 10 years, he has spearheaded Rural Oregon Day, which has affected rural policy at the state level. He has organized numerous rural policy forums in Oregon to address key issues around water conservation, water quality, housing, small business, health, education and renewable energy. He has organized efforts on a regional level including rural policy forums in Utah, Idaho and Arizona, as well as the Western Rural Summit conducted in Las Vegas in April 2010 through PRA and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Marko also is a board member for the Community Development Society (CDS), which bridges education and community development to promote best practices in community development worldwide. He is recognized as a leader by his peers in Oregon, throughout the West, and nationally.

The NRDP established the Ron Shaffer Award in 2001. It is given annually for outstanding leadership in rural America. Shaffer was a founding member and long time board member of Wisconsin Rural Partners. He passed away in 2005 after a long valiant struggle with ALS. Shaffer was known worldwide for his work in community economic development.

RCAC is a strong advocate for low-income, rural and tribal communities and is the Western Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP). RCAP is a national organization that maintains an office in Washington, D.C., which provides RCAC with direct access to policymakers on the national level.

Founded in 1978, RCAC provides a wide range of community development services for rural and Native American communities, agricultural workers and community-based organizations in 13 western states. RCAC’s core services and expertise are in housing, environmental infrastructure (water, wastewater and solid waste), leadership training, economic development and financing.

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